Floribunda rose plant named ‘Meipomolo’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Floribunda rose plant is provided that forms on a nearly continuous basis attractive bright yellow-orange blossoms. The growth habit is vigorous and bushy. The semi-glossy foliage is dense, dark green and of good substance and contrasts nicely with the yellow-orange blossom coloration. Very good tolerance to Black Spot and Oidium is displayed under normal growing conditions. The plant is well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in parks and gardens.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Floribunda Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. ‘Meipomolo’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Rosa hybrida variety of Floribunda rose plant was created byartificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previouslyhad been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) of the newvariety was the ‘Kortikel’ variety (non-patented in the United States).The ‘Kortikel’ variety sometimes is marketed under the GOLDEN HOLSTEINtrademark. The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the‘Meidomonac’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,105). Plants of the‘Meidomonac’ variety are marketed under the BONICA trademark. Theparentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows:‘Kortikel’×‘Meidomonac’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of Floribunda rose plant of thepresent invention possesses the following combination ofcharacteristics:

-   -   (a) forms on a nearly continuous basis attractive bright        yellow-orange blossoms,    -   (b) exhibits a vigorous and bushy growth habit,    -   (c) forms decorative dense dark green semi-glossy foliage of        good substance,    -   (d) displays good tolerance to Oidium and Black Spot, and    -   (e) is well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in        parks and gardens.

The yellow-orange blossom coloration is luminous in character andcontrasts nicely with the dark green foliage. Blooming commonly occurson a substantially uninterrupted basis from May to November. The plantis well suited for growing in U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone No. 6.

The new variety of the present invention can be readily distinguishedfrom its ancestors. More specifically, the blossoms of the ‘Kortibel’variety are pure yellow instead of bright yellow-orange. The‘Meidomonac’ variety forms dissimilar medium pink blossoms.

The new variety of the present invention also can be readilydistinguished from other similar Floribunda rose varieties, such as the‘Meibaltaz’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,449) and ‘Meimonblan’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 12,579) varieties. Each forms blossoms having a differentcoloration. The ‘Meibaltaz’ variety forms yellow blossoms and the‘Meimonblan’ variety forms darker tangerine orange blossoms.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andis particularly well suited for enhancing the appearance of thelandscape.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in Franceby a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and cuttage. Asexualpropagation by the above-mentioned techniques in the South of France hasshown that the characteristics of the new variety are stable and arestrictly transmissible by such asexual propagation from one generationto another.

The new variety has been named the ‘Meipomolo’ variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plantsof the new variety were two years of age and were observed duringSeptember while budded on Rosa froebelli understock and growing outdoorsat Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France. Dimensions in centimeters areindicated at the bottom of the photograph.

FIG. 1—illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud before the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 3—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 4—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thepetals;

FIG. 5—illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening;

FIG. 6—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 7—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 8—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 9—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 10—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12—illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13—illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 14—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with three leaflets—planview—upper surface;

FIG. 15—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with five leaflets—planview—under surface; and

FIG. 16—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with seven leaflets—planview—upper surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based onthe observation of two year-old plants during October while budded onRosa froebelli understock and growing outdoors at Le Cannet des Maures,Var, France. Reference to color in common terms is to be accorded itsordinary dictionary significance.

-   Class: Floribunda.-   Plant:    -   -   Height.—Approximately 80 to 90 cm on average at the end of            the growing season.        -   Width.—Approximately 80 to 90 cm on average at the end of            the growing season.        -   Habit.—Bushy.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—Young stems: near Green Group 137A. Adult wood: near            Green Group 137B.        -   Thorns.—Configuration: rather upright, longish-pointed on            the upper surface and concave on the under surface. On young            stems: over a length of 18 cm approximately 5 on average            long prickles having lengths over 5 mm that are near            Greyed-Purple Group 185D in coloration at the base and near            Yellow-Green Group 151D towards the tip. On adult stems:            over a length of 19 cm approximately 8 on average long            prickles having lengths over 5 mm that are near            Greyed-Orange Group 166A in coloration.-   Leaves:    -   -   Stipules.—Adnate, pectinate, approximately 2.5 cm in length,            approximately 0.8 cm in width, smooth on the upper surface,            tomentose on the under surface, and near Green Group 137C in            coloration.        -   Petioles.—Upper surface: rather glandular, and near Green            Group 136B in coloration. Under surface: tomentose, and near            Green Group 137B and 137C in coloration. Length:            approximately 1 to 2 cm on average.        -   Rachis.—Upper surface: rather glandular. Under surface:            tomentose.        -   Size.—A five-leaflet leaf including the petiole commonly is            approximately 11 cm in length on average and approximately            10.5 cm in width on average.        -   Leaflets.—Number: 3, 5 (most often), and 7. Shape: elliptic            with a pointed tip and an obtuse base. Size: terminal            leaflets commonly are approximately 7 cm in length on            average and approximately 3.5 to 4 cm in width on average.            Serration: fine and regular (as illustrated). Texture:            smooth, semi-glossy, and of good substance. General            appearance: very dense, dark green, and semi-glossy. Color            (young foliage): Upper surface: dark green, near Green Group            136A with some anthocyanin coloration of near Greyed-Red            Group 178A. Under surface: dark green, near Green Group 137A            and suffused with some red anthocyanin coloration. Color            (adult foliage): Upper surface: dark green, near Green Group            136A. Under surface: dark green, near Green Group 137A.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—Commonly in clusters of 2 to 5 flowers            per stem.        -   Peduncle.—Possesses good strength, rigid, very slightly            glandular, approximately 2 to 2.5 cm in length on average,            and near Green Group 138A in coloration.        -   Sepals.—Upper surface: tomentose and near Yellow-Green Group            148B and 148C in coloration. Under surface: smooth, and near            Green Group 137B, 137C, and 137D in coloration. Some small            extensions are present (as illustrated). Size: approximately            3 cm in length on average, and approximately 0.9 cm in width            at the widest point on average.        -   Buds.—Shape: conical. Size: Medium. Length: approximately            1.5 cm on average. Color upper surface: near Yellow-Orange            Group 15B and lightly suffused on the first petal whorls            with Orange-Red Group 35A as the calyx breaks. Color under            surface: near Yellow-Orange Group 15D and widely suffused            with Orange-Red Group 35A as the calyx breaks. Spot at base:            none observed.        -   Flower.—Blooming habit: commonly blooms in clusters from May            to November on a substantially continuous basis. Shape:            cup-shaped. Diameter: approximately 7 to 9 cm on average            when fully open. Color (when blooming): Upper surface:            bright yellow-orange, near Yellow-Orange Group 15B and 15C.            Under surface: near Yellow-Orange Group 15D and            Yellow-Orange Group 16D and lightly suffused with Orange-Red            Group 35C. Spot at base: none observed. Color stability:            very slight fading with advancing maturity. Petal number:            approximately 29 on average under normal growing conditions.            Petal arrangement: imbricated. Petal configuration: reflexed            tip and an obtuse base. Petal shape: generally oval. Petal            size: approximately 3.5 cm in length on average, and            approximately 3 cm in width on average. Petal texture:            smooth. Petal margin: wavy and somewhat reflexed (as            illustrated). Petaloids: very few located at the center,            commonly approximately 6 in number on average, generally            oval in shape, on the upper surface near Yellow-Orange Group            15B and slightly suffused with Orange-Red Group 35A, and on            the under surface near Yellow-Orange Group 15D and widely            suffused with some orange-red coloration. Stamen:            approximately 110 on average. Anthers: regularly disposed            around the styles, approximately 0.2 cm in size on average,            and near Greyed-Orange Group 177A in coloration. Filaments:            approximately 0.4 cm in length on average, and near            Greyed-Orange Group 165in coloration. Pistils: approximately            50 on average. Styles: approximately 0.2 cm in length on            average, and near Yellow-Green Group 149C in coloration.            Stigmas: approximately 0.1 cm in size on average, and near            Yellow Group 13B in coloration. Fragrance: none.            Lastingness: approximately 15 days on the plant in a garden            setting. Petal drop: the petals commonly detach cleanly            before drying. Receptacle: smooth, near Green Group 137B            suffused with some red anthocyanin coloration, commonly            approximately 0.6 to 0.8 cm in length and approximately 0.6            to 0.8 cm in width on average, and in longitudinal section            in the shape of a pitcher. Seeds: ovoid in shape, rough in            texture, and approximately 0.5 cm in length.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Very strong.        -   Blooming.—Nearly continuous.        -   Tolerance to diseases.—Very good with respect to Oidium and            Black Spot under normal growing conditions.        -   Tolerance to heat and cold.—Good general resistance.        -   Aptitude to bear fruit.—Medium.

1. A new and distinct Floribunda rose plant having the followingcombination of characteristics: (a) forms on a nearly continuous basisattractive bright yellow-orange blossoms, (b) exhibits a vigorous andbushy growth habit, (c) forms decorative dense dark semi-glossy foliageof good substance, (d) displays good tolerance to Oidium and Black Spot,and (e) is well suited for growing as ornamentation in parks andgardens; substantially as illustrated and described.